John Ashcroft: DC's Newest Lobbyist!

That's right, old John decided to forgo his singing career for the much more lucrative one of lobbying. The most distressing point?

After three decades in public office in Missouri and Washington, Mr. Ashcroft, 63, says he has decided to make up for lost time financially. Before joining the Bush administration, Mr. Ashcroft was a United States senator, and the governor and attorney general in Missouri.

His most recent federal financial disclosure statement showed Mr. Ashcroft to be comfortable but not particularly wealthy, with a portfolio valued at $500,000 to $1.5 million and a state of Missouri pension. He is also eligible for a federal pension.

So after having a salary that topped out at $175,700 as attorney general, Mr. Ashcroft is running his firm and hitting the speakers' circuit, speaking nearly once a week for a $75,000 fee. In addition, Mr. Ashcroft has been given equity stakes in private companies that have hired him, betting on a future gain should they go public. The firm did not disclose the companies.

... sorta speechless, especially considering that the article notes Ashcroft used the word 'integrity' "scores of times" during the 1 hour interview. What a wanker.